The recent surge in interest in matcha around the world is encouraging, but it also presents challenges. In Japan, where matcha is still prepared with extreme precision, the supply of high-quality tea is very limited. The harvest here is often collected only once a year. Typically, the leaves are aged for as long as 9 months until their flavor matures. In the current market, however, only leaves that have been aged for a few months are available. Traditionally, the tea leaves are slowly ground using stone mills. A single mill can grind only a few dozen grams per hour. This lengthy process results in a distinctive flavor but also limits production volume. Consequently, the industry is replacing stone mills with faster methods, which, in turn, compromises the flavor of matcha.
In addition, the recent rise in global demand, inflation, and the weakening of the Japanese yen are making it even more difficult to obtain the highest-quality matcha. This situation is being felt around the world.
At the Yugen Tea bar-studio, as always, you can sample all the top-quality matcha varieties in our collection. We currently invite you to choose from these varieties and enjoy them at home:
🍃 Akky-san Okumidori – the most popular matcha in our collection; smooth and delicate, perfect for traditional preparation.
🍃 Osada-san Okumidori – rich in flavor, a favorite for making matcha lattes.
🍃 Akky-san Gokou – rich in flavor, creamy, with a slightly sweet umami note.
🍃 Uejima-san Samidori – a more pronounced flavor, with earthy notes of peas and spinach.
🍃 Imperial Matcha – one of the most delicate in our collection: exceptionally smooth, with a velvety texture and a highly refined flavor. Best enjoyed without any additives when you want to experience the true elegance of matcha.
As always, you’ll find the farmer’s name and location on every package of our tea. This is our way of ensuring transparency and showing respect for those who grow the tea.
Thank you for being with us. Thank you for choosing quality. Thank you for supporting small tea farms in Japan and local businesses in Lithuania.